(Photo provided to China Daily)
We had the organic tomato soup (35 yuan), served warm enough, and acidic but sweet. On top of the soup was a miniature yellow-faced pansy floating on a bed of avocado foam.
At Tomacado when you order a drink or dessert you are also brought a dainty cluster of flowers in tiny vases that go with each dish. These flowers are decorative only and not for sale.
We tried a refreshing drink called Very Berries, a Tomacado special made with strawberry, blueberry, Sprite, lemon and mint leaves. It is served with a delicate bouquet made of a pink rose and tiny, exquisite purple-blue forget-me-nots.
In short, Kong's aim has been to create an ambiance in which the small, delightful things of life can be appreciated.
Tomacado's table water is light, easy to drink and appealing to the eye. It is made with basil, mint leaves, rose and blueberry.
As a smoothie there is Let's Avocado, made with green apple, honey and, obviously, avocado. It is served with an arrangement of a little daisy and a species of pink and white dianthus called China pink in a green vase, forming a matching color with the avocado and the apple.
For the main course we chose the Teriyaki salmon with coconut rice and sauteed snow beans (98 yuan).
Rice is the Wuchang variety, widely considered the best rice in China. Wuchang is a city in Heilongjiang province renowned for its rice-producing prowess. The rice is soft, even if chewy. Cooked with coconut milk and small pieces of mushroom, it gives off a sweet aftertaste of mild coconut. The flavor is perfectly balanced, with no risk of overpowering the salmon, which is outstanding. It has a delightfully crisp outer crust and juicy, flaky flesh. In preparing it, the chef probably used the sous vide method, which means first half-cooking the salmon in water at a low temperature, about 50 C, and then searing the fillet in a pan.
The serving was generous, a large salmon fillet sprinkled with teriyaki topping on a bed of coconut rice. This could be a perfect dish for dining solo with a drink.
Tomacado uses Julius Meinl coffee, an Austrian brand said to represent the time-honored Viennese coffee house culture. This brand is hard to come by in cafes in Beijing, one of those that do have it being the lobby lounge bar of the Kempinski Hotel in Liangmaqiao. At Tomacado, an Americano using Julius Meinl will set you back 28 yuan and a cappuccino 35 yuan.
Tomacado offers different lunch set menus on weekdays, each comprising a daily soup, salad and main course, the total cost being less than 100 yuan a person. Whatever you are expecting here, it is likely that in a most relaxing environment you will get more than you bargained for. I for one will be back for more of the same: food, drink and of course the flowers.
